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Chapter 64
“You said you were fed up with him too, didn’t you? There’s no need to overthink it.”
“Demon!”
Rivera’s sharp voice cut through Demon’s urging words.
“Our Rose, we haven’t seen each other for three years, and now you want to send her away just like that?”
Rivera looked at Demon with a resentful gaze. It wasn’t just anywhere—this was the North. Of course, the residence of the Duke of Arteum was located at the northern entrance near the capital, but Rivera didn’t want to send Rose that far.
Normally, Demon would listen to Rivera’s opinion, but he had no intention of yielding.
“It’s not like she’s going to a foreign country. It’s the Duke of Arteum’s residence. It’s close enough that she can go anytime she wants,” he said, calming Rivera’s agitation. He added with a gentle tone, as if coaxing her:
“I hope you can think rationally, considering what’s best for Rose.”
Rivera flinched at Demon’s words. She could confidently say that she knew her daughter better than anyone. Rose was the kind of person who had no pride when it came to love. But how she had divorced and left the Wens family was something Rivera didn’t understand.
Rose had even attended Eric’s wedding without issue, but that made Rivera more anxious. If Rose had truly had no lingering feelings, she wouldn’t have gone to the wedding. Rivera nervously chewed her lip and darted her eyes around.
Rivera’s anxiety didn’t subside easily. Even if she was told that Rose didn’t care about Eric, it only reassured her temporarily. Deep down, she feared that Rose might leave for Eric at any moment.
Demon gently took Rivera’s hand, squeezing it firmly as if asking her to trust him. Rivera let out a deep sigh as she looked into Demon’s intense gaze.
At that moment, Rose’s voice pierced the tense air.
“Will the Duke accept me?”
Her voice was cautious but not negative.
Living with the Duke…
Demon had said it would be “for the time being,” but Rose couldn’t help feeling uneasy. She pictured the Duke of Arteum’s terrifying face—his sharp blue eyes that seemed devoid of emotion.
“…Scary.”
The intimidating presence of the Duke made her shrink back. If she were to live in his residence, her daily life was obvious: she’d have to move quietly, like a sneaky cat, so as not to upset him.
…But maybe living in the same house would help with business?
Coordinating time with the Duke had never been easy. He had been so busy that their previous meeting had barely happened. Rose pondered deeply, conflicted.
It’s difficult… I want to advance the business quickly, but I don’t want to live in the same house as an unpleasant Duke…
Seeing Rose hesitate, Demon took the opportunity to persuade her.
“That’s not something you need to worry about. I’ll talk to the Duke for you. You only need to decide what you want.”
“…Then please ask him,” Rose replied cautiously after some thought.
Demon’s face brightened at her answer.
“Good. Well thought out.”
“Haah…”
Meanwhile, Rivera still sighed with a sulky expression but, unlike before, didn’t scold Demon.
“I’ll present our request to the Duke. Until then, don’t change your mind. And if that wretched Eric shows up while we’re gone, just act like he’s not here,” Demon said sternly, emphasizing that such a man should not be entertained.
He hastily sent a letter to the Duke of Arteum, worried that Rose might change her mind.
The Next Day
Early in the morning, the Duke of Arteum was tiredly reviewing documents. His desk was piled high with paperwork.
At that moment, the butler, Neran, knocked.
“It’s me.”
“Come in.”
“A letter addressed to Your Grace.”
“Is it for Rose?”
“No.”
At the Duke’s sharp “No,” his expression stiffened. He slammed the papers on the desk and glared at Neran.
“I told you to dispose of all other letters, didn’t I?”
A chilling voice filled the room.
“It’s not a letter for the daughter of the Serviat family, but…”
“Handle the unnecessary letters yourself,” the Duke said firmly.
Despite the intimidating tone, Neran calmly continued.
“It’s a letter for Count Serviat.”
“The Master sent it?”
The Duke’s previously stern expression softened. He gestured for Neran to come closer.
“This is strange,” Neran muttered. “The Count has never sent him a letter directly before.”
Officially, Count Serviat had never sent a letter to the Duke. When he needed to, he had always sent secret messages, avoiding the Emperor’s spies.
The Duke of Arteum couldn’t hide his curiosity as he took the letter. The handwriting on the plain envelope was unmistakably Count Serviat’s.
The Duke held the envelope to the lamp, squinting as he examined it.
…Someone opened this and resealed it.
Clearly, someone had intercepted the letter midway to check its contents.
Could something urgent have happened?
Rose’s face crossed his mind. Somehow, he felt the letter had to do with her.
He opened it with a stern face. The content was simple, but one sentence caught his eye:
“…Please allow Rose to stay here for the time being?”
Relieved that it wasn’t a problem he had worried about, he was still puzzled by the unexpected request.
Why… make such a request?
He looked at the letter, then pictured Rose’s shy, blushing face. Thinking of her smile, the Duke finally understood.
It seems she asked for this herself.
Yes. She must want to live with him and asked her father for this favor. The Count likely sent the letter reluctantly due to his daughter’s insistence.
The Duke of Arteum smiled, misunderstanding the situation completely.
Truly, what a proactive woman.
He didn’t dislike Rose’s efforts to be near him. Unaware that it was all his own misunderstanding, he laughed lightly.
Neran, unused to seeing the Duke like this, looked puzzled.
“Why do you have that expression all of a sudden?” he asked.
“Is it good news?”
“Well… it’s not exactly good news,” the Duke replied ambiguously, further confusing Neran.
Folding the letter, the Duke addressed Neran with a brightened face:
“We must prepare to receive a guest.”
“Is Count Serviat coming?”
“No.”
Slowly rising from his chair, the Duke seemed unusually excited.
“We are receiving the daughter of Count Serviat.”
“….”
Neran’s face tensed slightly.
“Shall we send a carriage to the Count’s residence?”
“Not yet. There’s something to do first.”
Shaking his head, the Duke spoke slowly:
“Prepare a room. Make it neat, suitable for a lady to stay in.”
Despite Neran’s reluctant expression, he obeyed. He instructed the maids to tidy up an empty room.
The previously empty room was quickly furnished with a large bed, wardrobe, and a table for tea. The preparations were complete within half a day of receiving the letter.
The Duke of Arteum, unable to focus on work, repeatedly checked the clock. He rose from his chair and paced near the window. Only the ticking clock echoed in the room.
At last, a long-awaited black carriage appeared in view—it was the one sent for Rose.
“She’s here.”
Seeing the carriage, his previously stern expression softened. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and his eyes curved subtly, showing a surprisingly pleasant look.
He left the room to welcome Rose, and Neran hurried after him, hair flying.
They hurried to the garden, where the carriage door was already open.
Seeing pastel pink hair, the Duke’s heart thumped strangely. He stared at her, flushed with anticipation.
The woman brushed her hair behind her ear and, sensing his gaze, turned to smile at him.
“Good to see you again, Duke of Arteum.”
It wasn’t Rose. It was her mother, Rivera. Count Serviat accompanied her.
The Duke’s previously cheerful expression stiffened. He looked around, as if searching for someone.
Could it be she didn’t come?
Rose wasn’t there. She had sent her request, but only the Count and his wife had arrived. The Duke’s confusion was evident as he stared at them.
“Good to see you again, Countess Serviat,” he greeted Rivera first, then looked at Demon.
He wanted to ask why Rose hadn’t come, but couldn’t bring himself to speak. His lips moved slightly before closing.
At that moment, a clear, feminine laugh rang in his ears.
“Ahaha! That tickles!”
The Duke and Neran turned toward the sound.
There she was—Rose—playing in the garden with Fin, who wagged his tail happily. Rose’s expression was innocent and childlike. Fin nuzzled her and licked her face.
Finally noticing the Duke’s gaze, Rose petted Fin and then turned to smile warmly at him.
“Hello, Duke.”
Rose slowly rose to her feet, smiling at him.
“She’s here.”
The Duke’s previously stiff expression melted away, his warm eyes shining as he looked at Rose.
